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May/June

I keep seeing the description Barkcloth. What exactly is Barkcloth?
Dear Interwood: best I can tell, it was a popular fabric back in the 20's and 30's. Perhaps one of our fabric historians can answer this question better. Here's Joan............ Andy
And now, here is Joan's answer:
Barkcloth is made in imitation of tapa or barkcloth made from tree bark by South Sea islands natives. It became popular in the mid-20s through 50s, most popular in 40s and 50s. In late 50s it was made in rayon, then Fiberglas. Cloth is distinguished by its texture which can range from bark to large pebbles and its large floral designs.
Joan
Vintage Fabric Columnist, Fabrics.net

Hi Andy,
I want to dye the cushions on my patio chairs, they are in really good shape, and the frames are great. what can i buy to dye the cushions?n thank you carol
Dear Carol: I don't know that you will be able to dye those cushions. For information on dyeing visit www.ritdye.com. It may be less expensive to buy new cushions. Enjoy your summer and Good Luck, Andy

What is the awful smell in 100% silk garments? Can it be gotten out? It's really bad when you walk in the isle of a store and the smell over whelms. Thanks for your help.
Later, Raellen
Dear Raellen: the odor may be a finish that is added to the garments to help them "ship" better. If you can't stand the smell, get out of the store. Usually, the odor will dissipate over time. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy
I have a hard time folding my fitted sheets. If you have a diagram or any suggestions please forward
Sincerely
perplexed sheet folder
Dear Mertha: the beauty of your sheets, lies in the fact, that no matter how poorly they are folded, when they are on the bed, all the wrinkles will disappear. Wouldn't that be great if all of our own wrinkles would disappear just as easy? Don' t fret about the sheets. Good Luck, Andy

dear Andy,
I am furniture designer and is developing chair with fabric known as either net or mesh or membrane , in fact I am looking for fabric that is strong having elasticity to support weight of occupant, these fabric are directly put over frames of chairs. such kind of fabrics are used by herman miler aeron chair or many other makers use different kind of net.
we also need normal solid fabric probably laminated to make it stronger and capable of being welded like eames alum chair made by vitra or herman miller look for ward to your reply
thanking you
paresh
Dear Paresh: the names you have mentioned are the top furniture manufacturers in their fields. They have the fabrics custom made to meet their exacting needs. While you may be able to find similar looking fabrics, they probably will not perform as well as the originals. Visit our sourcing area here at Fabrics.Net to find the fabrics you need. Good Luck, Andy

Hi Andy!!
1. What would be the Fibre content and the mass of Fabric (in gms/meter sq) for a Weather coat suitable for the Tropics?
2. What is meant by a Fabric count?
LIZ
Dear Liz: to question #1: I don't have an answer. To question #2: the count describes the amount of threads used to make the product. Think of bed sheets: 500 count would be 500 threads per inch. Good Luck, Andy

Hello Andy,
I am told that heat reflective silver polyurethane fabric when used as car cover can reduce the inside temperature by quite a few degrees if and while the vehicle is left parked in the sun. Is it true ? Or, is there a better material available than the above mentioned fabric ? Your comments, and suppliers of such materials would be very much appreciated.
With best regards,
Sultan
Dear Sultan: it is true that fabrics have been created that resist heat. Many of these are custom made for the manufactures and are not available in the "open" market as stock fabrics. Visit www.ifai.com. They are the Industrial Fabrics Association, Inc. They may have an area to source the fabric you need. Good Luck, again. Andy

Dear Andy,
My brother in law who lives in Cal. wants the interior of his airplane redone. He was thinking of doing it in leather, but he heard about P leather. This is a material that I have not heard about myself. Can you tell me if this material will meet the fire code for plane interiors.
Thank you, Larry
Dear Larry: let him stay with leather for the plane interior. I don't know if Pleather is available with a FR finish. Stay with the leather, if it works. Good Luck, Andy

HELP! What will remove the odor of perspiration from rayon? Will white vinegar work? Is it safe to try?
Sue
Dear Sue: I don't like the smell of Vinegar either. Just bring the garment to your local dry cleaner, and let them remove the odor. Good Luck, Andy

Andy:
I want to cut off some of my blue jeans to make these cute little cropped pants. How can I get the edges to "fray" like they do from the manufacturer? Thanks for you help!
Rita
Dear Rita: we always used a pinking sheers, and then threw them into the washing machine. The natural action of the machine, would cause them to fray naturally. Keep wearing them and washing them. In no time, they will be frayed forever. Enjoy them and Good Luck, Andy

Hi Andy,
I have searched and searched the directories but can't find a good resource for pre quilted fabric in solid colors. Could you offer a source (possibly NYC?)
Thanks,
Ali
Dear Ali: all fabrics are prequilted. There are lots of great fabric stores in NYC. Look in the Manhattan yellow pages. Many of them are in the Garment Center area. In addition, search here at Fabrics.Net. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy,
My husband purchased a brand new guitar case lined in a faux fur. It has a terrible odor (reminds me of skunk) and we were wondering if there is some way to lessen the odor. We've tried baking powder, a commercial spray carpet cleaner, good old soap and water, leaving it open and placing it outside. It seemed the odor was fading but when we walked in the room last night it was apparent that it was almost as strong as when we started. Hoping you can advise.
Thank you, JoAnn & Ken
Dear JoAnn & Ken: seems the only thing to do is return the case. That odor will never come out. I'm not "Joken". Good Luck, Andy

Hi, I am replacing the felt on our pool table. The wool/polyester felt we bought has been in a bag for awhile and was very wrinkled. I steamed some of the wrinkles out of it and realized that the steamer left dark marks where it was used. Is there anything I can do to restore the color? Thank you
Dear Friend: buy another piece of fabric and put it down immediately. Trying to fix the problem will cost more that doing it right the first time. Good Luck, Andy

HI, ANDY
ALL OF THE LEATHER PILLOWS I'VE SEEN ONLINE ARE WAY TO EXPENSIVE FOR MY TASTE. I'M DECORATING A LIVING ROOM, AND I WAS WONDERING WHAT SITE COULD I GO TO AND FIND FAKE LEATHER PILLOWS (JUST YOUR BASIC THROW PILLOWS)OR SOMETHING THAT RESEMBLES LEATHER. ALSO IN A VARIETY OF COLORS AS WELL.
THANKS
Dear Allen: try some of the big box retailers like Linens "N Things and Bed, Bath & Beyond, as well as KMart, Target and Walmart. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy:
I've been searching the net for an explanation of the "Fabric Care" symbols on the tiny little labels of underwear, shirts, slacks, etc.
In the old days...they used to write these things in English. Now that things are made everywhere but USA and sold around the world--they've started using these "universal symbols."
Some of these, I find are--quite incomprehensible...A circle with a dot with an "X" marked through it. A Box with a circle inside of a dot. A "bucket of water" with a temperature inside--that, I understand. Then there's a triangle with slashes through it--what the heck is that??
Anyway...who created these "symbols" and is there any reference place to know what they really mean?
thanx
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
The Fabric Care information and symbols can be found at Textile Industry Affairs at http://www.textileaffairs.com
Hope this helps you understand the new FTC Care labels. :-)
Judith

I am looking for a dark chocolate/espresso decorative pillows made of faux hair. I cannot seem to find it anywhere. I am doing searches under mohair, zebra hide, brendall longhorn. Am I searching under the wrong keyword? Where can I find it?
Vinny
Dear Vinny: we just saw them last week in our local Home Expo a division of Home Depot. They were reasonably priced. See if you can find them on the web, or call their store in Westbury, New York. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy,
I am looking everywhere for printed and solid nylon tricot fabric for making women's lingerie. Also, I can't find picot edge lingerie elastic (for leg and waist bands). I need pastel colors and all I ever find is white and black. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Billie
Dear Billie: I know what you want is difficult to find. Start your search here at Fabrics.Net. Are you looking for 10 yards or 1000 yards? Larger yardage requirements will require you to contact on of the mills that prints tricots. We personally know of a few. However, if you are trying to source small quantities, you will need to buy from a textile jobber. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy,
I have two white all cotton summer shirts. When I took them out to wear for the season, I discovered that they had become yellowish in some areas. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can restore the color to a nice, even white? Thank you.
J. B.
Dear JB: you might read the care label on the shirt and follow the instructions. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy,
I recently purchased some Battenburg cafe curtains at a garage sale. They are yellowed. Is anything I can do to whiten them again?
Thanks,
Lupe
Dear Lupe: my wife said to wash them in Clorox. Good Luck, Andy

Do you know the name(s) of any tailors/cleaners in New York City that will dye a formal dress? I have been told by some cleaners that no one does this anymore.
Thank you.
Heather
Dear Heather: the information you've have received is probably correct. Visit www.ritdye.com to find out how to do the dyeing yourself. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy:
Can you provide names/websites of manufacturers of cloth labels? I am also looking for packaging manufacturers. I am starting a small business which will produce fine neckwear for men. Thank you.
Karen
Dear Karen: visit www.namelabels.com. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy,
I recently purchased a kitchen rug which is black, red, and white. When I washed it in cool water the red fadded onto the white. What can I do about the fadding of the red, which I now have a black, red, and pink rug.
Dear Sadie: if you've followed the washing instructions as per the label on the rug, then bring it back to where you purchased it. They must give you a full refund. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy,
I would like to start manufacturing baby bedding, and wanted to know what kind of manufacturing guidelines there are. I have heard that flame retarding is required by law, but that it is very costly and still poses health risks to small children. Is it true that flame retarding can be avoided if there is a label on the products stating it is not flame retardant? What other guidelines are them? Who should I talk to?
Thanks for your help.
Dear Natasha: while I always have believed going into business is and was a good idea, may I suggest you find another business to try. If you want to go into the baby bedding business, you've got to do it right. You will need to carry large sums of business insurance. You will not be able to sell your products if they are not flame retardant. Visit the JPMA web site (Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association) as well as the CPSC site (Consumer Product Safety Commission). There are lots of rules and regulations to adhere to. Hire a good Attorney. Then and only then should you think about selling baby bedding. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy,
I have been searching the net for weeks trying to locate a wholesaler that sells gucci,burberry,lv, dior,and others but have been unsuccessful.I have located sites that have them but their ordering procedures seems a little skeptical to me.Some would like for you to send cash and do not provide a telephone no.I am asking for your assistance in helping locate some legitmate sites.Very desparate in finding some designer fabrics.Thanking you in advance.
Dear Denise: you are right in not doing business with companies that will only accept cash, and have no phone listing. More than likely they will not deliver the fabric, or are selling a counterfeit version of the fabric. The truth is that in the 30 years we have been selling fabrics, we have never seen any "off" goods from the Designers you have mentioned. What we have seen, is that those designers offer smaller and smaller versions of different products, to use their own overruns or off goods, themselves. We have lots of great fabrics right here at Fabrics.Net. Good Luck, Andy

 

Andy has been in the fabric and textile business all his life, but professionally since 1969.

"I love what I do, selling fabrics around the globe. I've met lots of interesting, creative, dynamic folks; some have become dear friends. I love to help new businesses find the things they need to become successful. It works for everyone."

You can ask Andy questions at Andy@Fabrics.net.

If you are looking for fabrics, the fastest route is to fill out a request form at http://www.fabrics.net/swatch/

The "Ask Andy" Column is an opinion Column and may or may not reflect the views of Fabrics.net.